Xbox fans may be waiting a while for Microsoft’s next console, and they could face a huge bill when it arrives.
A new Fortune profile of Xbox CEO Asha Sharma reports that Project Helix is now aimed at a holiday 2028 launch. It also says the console has been internally projected to cost consumers somewhere between $1,200 and $1,800, “unless Microsoft decides to subsidize the cost.”
None of this is official yet, and Microsoft hasn’t commented on the report.
A handheld comes first
Before Helix, Fortune says Microsoft is planning a next-generation Xbox handheld for the 2027 holiday season. The report also claims there was internal disagreement over the device’s software. Windows leadership reportedly wanted it to run a slimmed-down version of Windows Home, while Sharma’s team pushed for its own software to get the most gaming performance out of it.
Microsoft confirmed at GDC in March that Helix will play both Xbox and PC games, with development kits reaching studios from 2027.
Why so expensive?
The projected price comes amid a global shortage of memory and storage, as AI data centres buy up huge amounts of supply. Sharma has already warned that the cost of console storage parts has risen sharply since she became CEO, and that the increases will affect Helix’s pricing and availability.
The squeeze isn’t limited to Microsoft. Insider KeplerL2 recently claimed that the memory and storage in Sony’s PS6 alone would cost more than $680 per console. Analysts have also been debating whether next-gen machines will break the $1,000 barrier. Aldora CEO Joost van Dreunen even predicted earlier this year that the next generation might not arrive until 2028.
Current hardware isn’t immune either. Microsoft recently raised Xbox Series X|S prices by up to $150 and added Buy Now, Pay Later options to Microsoft Stores.
Changes to Game Pass too
Fortune also reports that Microsoft is planning to overhaul Game Pass, letting players choose features à la carte, with add-ons for things like cloud gaming and multiplayer. It’s another sign that Xbox is looking for new ways to make money as hardware costs keep rising.
If the reported price range is accurate, Helix could be the most expensive mainstream console ever released.